Monday 29th Nov (A Quick Wreck Trip)

[GPSguru]

A short Monday weather window that stayed quite static since late last week couldn’t be overlooked. The plan was to launch at 8:00am and return to the slip at 13:00, however, it didn’t exactly go to plan.

First stop was Tesco to brim the RIB tank, however the pump was running but would not pump fuel. The forecourt is not particularly large and leaving the pump that I finally used meant a bit of ‘shunting’ to get the 7m trailer safely through the exit !

Once on the slip I quickly prepared the boat and reversed the trailer in, however, when I went to get back in the Jeep, all the doors were locked and the engine was running. Just to add insult to injury it was also a rising tide. A quick phone call to Brother in law and he picked up the spare keys from my house and brought them to the slip in about 30mins …. Phew.

So, my 8:00 launch meant that I didn’t get away from the slip until a little after 9:00am.

I decided as time was now tight that I would go back to the 9 mile wreck that has fished so well for me recently. The sea was fairly flat and cruising at 28knts I was soon on the wreck.

Again I decided to stick with SPJ, so on went a blue 150g gram jig and it was soon sent to the bottom where after a couple of pitches it was hit by a Bass of about 3lb (didn’t weigh that one). This was followed by a string of Pout, some of which were quite sizable. Next drift saw me into a better fish, but it turned out to be a 2lb Pollock that was hooked in the dorsal fin, but it put up a good showing on the Slow Jigging II rod.

Every drift was delivering fish, mostly Pout and school Bass (2lb ish). As I was drifting off the wreck I left the jig fishing on its own whilst I had a coffee. I then noticed the rod hoop over as a fish took the jig. The fight was very spirited and I was a bit disappointed to see that I had tail hooked a largish pout!

It was now about mid flood (neap tide) and the fish were hugging the wreck, but a drop down on the down tide side of the wreck saw the SPJ rod hoop over and I was finally into a decent fish that was taking line. This was a 5lb 4oz Bass in beautiful condition.

12:30 and time to head back in, to be on the slip for 13:00. The total tally for the morning was 7 Bass to 5lb, one Pollock, and way too many Pout (14)

A great day to be out there, a bit cold, but the winds were light and the sea flat. Total trip distance was 21Nm.

A few pictures, taken off the GoPro,

 

A 3lb (ish) Bass

 

A dorsal fin hooked Pollock

 

Also a Tail hooked Pout

 

A decent 5lb 4oz Bass

[Andy135]

Another good trip Ian! Very envious, of your catches and your weather - no end in sight to our unsettled forecasts sadly.

Top dangling 👍

[Geoff]

Good report - well done for getting out - Ice all over the cars and frozen puddles up here this morning. Geoff.

[GPSguru]

1 hour ago, Geoff said:

Good report - well done for getting out - Ice all over the cars and frozen puddles up here this morning. Geoff.

Yep, it was -1c when I left home and 1c on the slipway, but the sun was shining. As long as it stays dry, the cold doesn't bother me.

[Saintly Fish]

Well done Ian, another successful trip. Like Andy said, it seem we are going to be land locked for a while down our way. And then all the fish (that we never catch) will be gone anyway, so about 4 months ahead with no fishing. 

[Odyssey]

Nice fishing! 
 

I couldn’t get the day off work sadly to get out and now weather looks grim for a few days or weeks…. 
 

Time to work on boat and think about going back west. Cardiff is a waste of time but maybe there’ll be a few mackerel and herring around in winter. Water is very warm despite the cold snap

[mike farrants]

cracking "smash and grab" opportunity there - a fine looking bass - weather was lovely here too yesterday - always on a weekday lol!

 

[JDP]

Glammer conditions, you can keep that chilly stuff though!!!

 

[GPSguru]

5 hours ago, Saintly Fish said:

Like Andy said, it seem we are going to be land locked for a while down our way. And then all the fish (that we never catch) will be gone anyway, so about 4 months ahead with no fishing. 

When we get a nice winter day (which seems to happen a couple of times a month), just head to a channel wreck. The wrecks always fish better in the winter.

[thejollysinker]

well done Ian, you got out then... and made the most of it, nice.

Good job you managed to get your car sorted, could've been nasty.

[moonlighter]

Well done on getting some fish on board.

I had the same predicament with a locked, running vehicle on a rising tide but luckily had the spare car key in the boat.

Nowadays I always leave the drivers window open when launching and landing the boat to save any panic.